Shafali Verma’s name is now synonymous with India’s historic women’s ODI World Cup win in 2025. After India defeated South Africa by 52 runs in the final, the young all‑rounder stood out as Player of the Match and was hailed as a true world champion.
When she flew back to Rohtak, the pride in her father Sanjeev’s smile told the whole story. “My father was very happy. He doesn’t show emotions easily, but you could see it on his face,” Shafali told . A quick phone call after the victory had him exclaim, “Haan bhai, champion!”—a moment that made her feel truly special.
Fans welcomed her with cheers and chants of “World Champion,” and she said the support from her hometown felt like music. “Everyone in Rohtak came to celebrate me. It made me feel that we actually won the World Cup,” she added. The world‑wide recognition and the gratitude from fans—“thanks for making India proud”—gave her immense confidence.
Shafali’s path to glory is a story worth noting. After a year outside the ODI squad, she refined her game in domestic cricket and earned a recall for the knockout stages in Navi Mumbai. She scored only ten runs in the semi‑final against Australia, but she kept a calm, focused mindset for the final clash.
In the final, Shafali sparked India’s 87 off 78, and she also took two key wickets in the bowling attack. “I had a few game plans for the final and stayed flexible. All the plans worked out, and we won the World Cup,” she said, stressing that her maturity and preparation paid off.
Her bowling proved decisive when she dismissed South African captain Marizanne Kapp and delivered a pressure‑breaking over early in the match. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s trust in her handover of the ball was a turning point that tipped momentum to India.
When Harmanpreet made the catch that sealed the win, Shafali, who had cramped calves and barely played the last overs, burst onto the field in celebration. “I tried to make the most of that moment. Even with cramps, I was proud to run and feel the joy of the team,” she explained.
Post‑match, Shafali credited God for guiding her through the ups and downs. “I thanked God when I held the Player of the Match award. I believed He chose me for this role, and I’m truly grateful,” she said, reflecting on her journey from captaining the U‑19 World T20 team in 2022 to lifting India’s first major women’s cricket trophy in 2025.
The triumph on November 2, 2025, isn’t just a career milestone—it marks a watershed moment for Indian women’s cricket, after years of investment and heartbreak. For Shafali and her family, the biggest reward is the joy on her father’s face—a simple, pure happiness that shows the victory means far more than just a title.
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